Blossom

The pomegranate symbolizes fertility and prosperity.

Just as Song Mo was fervently hoping for Dou Zhao’s wishes to come true, Chen Jia sent over several pomegranate carvings made of mutton-fat jade.

Song Mo couldn’t help but pick one up to admire under the lamplight. “This Chen Jia—I didn’t expect him to have such an eye for things. I’ve underestimated him.”

His tone carried unmistakable approval for Chen Jia.

Dou Zhao also took a “pomegranate” from the box to examine. “It’s carved from a single piece of mutton-fat jade. The mottled veins would normally make it worthless, but the artisan used them to craft these pomegranates, turning them into heirloom-quality pieces. What’s even rarer is that they managed to gather four or five similar ones…” She picked up the remaining “pomegranates” and carefully ran her fingers over them. “They must have been cut from the same large stone… likely something discarded… I wonder which master artisan created these. It’s truly a stroke of genius…”

Song Mo shared her opinion.

Each “pomegranate” was about the size of a child’s fist. The finest mutton-fat jade is prized for its flawless whiteness. If the original stone had been intact, even with such mottling, it could have been carved into smaller pendants or even larger decorative pieces. Yet all of it had been used to make these “pomegranates,” suggesting that while the stone was large, the usable jade wasn’t a single solid piece, and the veins ran deep, making even small pendants less than ideal.

Seeing Dou Zhao’s keen interest, Song Mo smiled. “We can summon Chen Jia tomorrow and ask him who the carver was.”

But Dou Zhao shook her head, carefully placing the pomegranates back into the box. “Such exquisite craftsmanship—even if these aren’t a shop’s prized treasures, they must be a collector’s gems. Forget a newly appointed Vice Commissioner of the Imperial Bodyguard—even our Dou family, with our antique shops, wouldn’t easily come by pieces like these. I suspect they might be of dubious origin. It’s best to return them.”

“You make a fair point,” Song Mo agreed, placing the one in his hand back into the box as well. “Though the Embroidered Uniform Guard Garrison Command has its ways, it wouldn’t be easy for a newly promoted Vice Commissioner to acquire such jade pieces.”

There was something else he didn’t say.

The Pacification Office of the Imperial Bodyguard dealt in shadowy affairs. He had liked the gift because he hoped it would bring him and Dou Zhao good fortune. But if it was tainted by bloodshed, he’d rather not have it.

He called for Chen He and handed him the box. “Have Du Wei investigate where these came from.”

Chen He acknowledged the order and left.

Song Mo no longer dared to tease Dou Zhao. He instructed Gan Lu to help her freshen up, and once she was done, he insisted on carrying her to bed as if she were fragile glass.

Dou Zhao was both amused and exasperated. “I’m not ill—I can still walk on my own.”

“Better to be cautious,” Song Mo replied with a smile, though his eyes held an unyielding determination.

This side of Song Mo filled Dou Zhao’s heart with both joy and helplessness. She knew all too well that once he set his mind to something, he wouldn’t easily change course.

She let him carry her to bed.

Song Mo was in high spirits. After washing up, he held Dou Zhao in his arms and chatted with her."Do you think it's a boy or a girl?" He idly stroked her jet-black hair.

She had expected Song Mo to ask this and couldn't help but laugh. "Would you prefer a boy or a girl?"

"Either is fine." Song Mo mused dreamily, "But it would be best to have a girl first. They say it's good to have flowers before fruit. Besides, girls are more attentive. She could help take care of her younger siblings later and assist you in managing the household... We'll have several more children, boys or girls. Ideally five sons and three daughters..."

Dou Zhao broke into a cold sweat: "Isn't that too many?"

"Not at all." Song Mo chuckled. "Our Song family has few descendants, unlike the Marquis Changxing's household or the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion where there's always plenty of support..." His voice gradually trailed off.

Was he recalling the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion's former bustling prosperity and its current decline?

Dou Zhao held Song Mo tightly.

"Let's focus on educating our children well in the future," she gently comforted him. "Less violence—it often leads to trouble."

Feeling her concern, Song Mo squeezed Dou Zhao in response, wordlessly answering her.

"We'll have your father teach them their first lessons," he smiled slightly. "Perhaps our family might produce a Presented Scholar too."

Dou Zhao chuckled, holding his hand as she nestled into his embrace.

The palace lamp on the small stool by the bed crackled with a few sparks.

Softly, Dou Zhao asked Song Mo, "How are Fifth Uncle and the others doing over there?"

"They're doing well." Song Mo played with Dou Zhao's delicate though not particularly soft hand. "They say Liao Wang looks after them often, sending his Chief Steward to visit. The Military garrison treats them with respect because of it. Jiang Fangyuan has even quietly started trading furs and medicinal herbs with them. Not only does the Jiang Family no longer need to send them money for expenses, but they're also self-sufficient now, covering their own living costs. Oh, Jiang Fangyuan is the eldest son of my eldest uncle, twelve years my senior. Back home, he preferred studying to martial arts, which often earned him lectures from my uncle. Who would have thought the whole family would now depend on him? My second cousin Jiang Fangzhong, third cousin Jiang Fangji, and seventh cousin Jiang Fangqi all survived. Jiang Fangzhong is from the fourth branch, Jiang Fangji from the seventh, and Jiang Fangqi is the second son of Third Uncle..."

He went on introducing the Jiang family members to Dou Zhao.

But Dou Zhao only felt heartache.

Of Jiang Meisun's four sons, only Jiang Fangyuan, who had stayed home to study, survived. The daughter Jiang Zhusun left behind had died by suicide by hanging. Of Jiang Lansun's three sons, only Jiang Fangqi lived. Jiang Songsun's six sons saw only the youngest, then still in swaddling clothes, survive. And Jiang Bosun left behind that child still with the Tan family, unrecorded in the family register...

Only now did she truly grasp the depth of Madam Mei's pain—and her strength.

Song Mo was a child of both the Jiang and Song bloodlines.

Was that why he was stronger than most?

Yet as the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Had his trials been greater because of this?

Dou Zhao wrapped her arms around Song Mo's neck and kissed his chin.

"What's the matter?" He looked down, warmth glimmering in his eyes.

"Nothing!" She kissed his cheek. "The Jiang Family has so many people.""Mm," Song Mo smiled. "Three inner and nine outer branches, twelve families in total. There are also the paternal aunts who have returned to their parents' home after being divorced or widowed, along with cousins and sisters. It wasn't until I was nine that I managed to recognize all the relatives in the family..."

As he reminisced about those days, his expression was lively and spirited, shedding some of his usual aristocratic reserve and revealing a youthful exuberance, much like a boy next door. Warm, enthusiastic, genuine... yet still so strikingly handsome.

Dou Zhao smiled faintly.

Song Mo would probably never truly resemble an ordinary boy next door in his entire life!

Unable to resist, she kissed Song Mo's cheek again.

Song Mo paused, gazing at her quietly, patiently waiting for her to speak.

"Nothing," Dou Zhao said with a smile. "I was just listening to you talk about the Jiang Family."

Song Mo chuckled and continued, "I loved following Fifth Uncle to skate on Chashi Lake the most, but every time, Grandmother would nervously insist I take all my attendants. I knew she was worried because the Song family only had me and my younger brother. She was afraid something might happen..."

Dou Zhao watched Song Mo intently, her face radiant with a smile.

Skin touching skin. She could make her lose control.

Didn’t that count as another kind of involuntary affection?

Song Mo suppressed the excitement in his heart, trying to keep his tone as ordinary as possible.

In comparison, he seemed to prefer her undivided attention, her gaze fixed solely on him.

※※※※※※

At the crack of dawn the next day, Gu Yu came running over.

"Tianci, I'm heading to Liaodong. Do you have anything you'd like me to bring for Fifth Uncle?"

He was wearing a black fox-fur coat and seemed in high spirits.

Song Mo handed Gu Yu a few letters and a large bundle. "The letters are for Fifth Uncle, and the bundle contains some food and common ointments your sister-in-law prepared for you."

Hearing that Dou Zhao had prepared something for him, Gu Yu let out an awkward "Oh" and had his attendant take the bundle.

Song Mo couldn’t help but give Gu Yu a few words of advice and personally saw him off.

Chen Qushui requested an audience with Dou Zhao: "Tan Laotaiye heard about your marriage and specifically sent Tan Juren's wife to bring you congratulatory gifts..."

He asked if she would receive her.

If nothing else, the child was still being raised by the Tan family. How could Dou Zhao refuse?

She went with Chen Qushui to the Reception Hall.

Tan’s wife was around forty, with fair skin and a plump figure. Her round face, like a full moon, was always smiling before she even spoke, making her seem warm and approachable.

"We’re all fellow villagers, and Duan Gongyi has been under your care. You even sent gifts for the old master’s birthday. By all rights, we should have come to thank you long ago," she said cheerfully, looking at Dou Zhao with warmth and ease. "But with Seventh Master in the Capital and Second Madam’s side, we’ve never had much interaction, so we kept our gratitude to ourselves. Now that the old master heard you’ve married into the Capital and become a Madam, he sent us with these gifts. Though they’re nothing special and a bit late, they come from our hearts. Please don’t disdain them." With that, she presented the gift list.

The Tan family had managed to live in seclusion for so many years, and they certainly had their strengths.

Though unsure why the Tan family had suddenly come to visit, Dou Zhao noticed the gift list was just a single thin sheet, and the gifts were presented as a return gesture. After some thought, she politely accepted the list.

Tan’s wife then chatted with her about some anecdotes from Zhen Ding and shared stories from her journey.Dou Zhao followed Mrs. Tan's lead in conversation, and the two chatted amiably, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

After drinking two cups of tea, Mrs. Tan mentioned her intention to visit Duan Gongyi’s mother: "Since I’ve come to the Capital, I ought to pay my respects."

Dou Zhao accompanied Mrs. Tan to the small courtyard where Duan Gongyi lived.

Duan’s mother, unable to move easily, was carried out from the inner room by Duan Gongyi to meet Dou Zhao and Mrs. Tan in the main hall.

Mrs. Tan presented some medicinal herbs to Duan’s mother and offered words of comfort, urging Duan Gongyi to strive for success so his mother need not worry, and advising her to rest well and recover. Then, she rose to take her leave.

It almost seemed as if her sole purpose in coming to the Capital was to deliver congratulatory gifts to Dou Zhao.

This left Dou Zhao somewhat surprised, though she maintained her composure as she escorted Mrs. Tan out of the Hall of Cultivating Will.

On the way back, she asked Chen Qushui, "Do you have any idea why Mrs. Tan came?"

Chen Qushui shook his head, equally puzzled.

Dou Zhao instructed Gan Lu to bring over the Tan family’s gift list.

It contained nothing out of the ordinary—merely items like screens and porcelain, delicate but hardly valuable.

"Looks like we’ll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it!" Dou Zhao sighed with a wry smile.